Method of packaging tobacco



Sept. 25, 1956 H. A. ATKINS 2,763,973

METHOD OF PACKAGING TOBACCO Filed April 9, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1L m a 0J o w m 3 I N VENTOR Herbert J? A t/@115 wz w ATTORNEY Sept. 25, 1956 H.A. ATKINS METHOD OF PACKAGING TOBACCO 2 Sheefls-fiheet 2 Filed April 9,1954 United States Patent METHOD OF PACKAGING TOBACCO Herbert A. Atkins,Richmond, Va., assignor to Philip Morris and Co. Ltd., Inc., New York,N. Y., a corporation of Virginia Application April 9, 1954, Serial No.422,008

6 Claims. (CI. 53-24) This invention relates to a method of packagingtobacco. More particularly, it relates to a method of packagingcompressible tobacco in a yieldable-wall topseal type container.

The origin of the term hogshead to describe a large cylindrical cask orcontainer is unknown. In early colonial times tobacco growers used hugewooden cylindrical containers to transport their tobacco to market.Spikes were driven into each end of the container, shafts attached tothe spikes and horses or oxen were used to roll the casks of tobacco tomarket.

Large cylindrical wooden hogsheads are in general use by tobaccomanufacturers to store and transport tobacco. These hogsheads aregenerally made of wooden staves or plywood, reinforced with necessarymetal bands or straps. The hogsheads vary in size but are generallyabout 48" high and about 48" in diameter. Into each is compressed about900-1000 pounds of tobacco.

In modern tobacco stemmeries, a hydraulic press is used to compress thetobacco in the hogshead. After the tobacco is compressed, the press headis removed from the hogshead and a wooden top is carefully positioned inthe hogshead. The press head is then repositioned to force the top tothe desired locking position,

and the top is then fastened securely.

While the wooden hogsheads are in general use throughout the industry,there are several disadvantages. Principally, they are costly. They areditficult to open to inspect or secure samples after they are sealed.They are large, heavy and difiicult to handle.

Heretofore, investigators have proposed the use of various other typesof containers for tobacco, such as cardboard containers, but none havebeen used successfully to my knowledge. The difficulty experienced withcardboard containers was that the sides of the containers yieldedoutwardly or burst from the force of the press head during compressionof the tobacco. A further problem was that the expansion of the tobaccoafter compression, caused by its resilience, prevented the top flaps ofthe carton from being securely fastened.

Now, in accordance with my invention, I have developed a method ofpackaging compressible tobacco in a yieldable-wall, top-seal typecontainer comprising positioning a yieldable-wall, top-seal typecontainer with its top flaps extending upwardly, positioning a rigidform around the outside periphery of said open container, and in spacedrelationship thereto, filling said container with compressible tobaccoto a level above the top score lines of said container, compressing saidtobacco to a level below the top score lines of said container andsealing said container before the compressed tobacco therein can expandto a level above the top score line of said carton.

While there are various types of apparatus adapted to carrying out mymethod, one particularly preferred is shown in the accompanying drawingsand description:

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view in elevation of the overall -method ofcarrying out the method.

2,763,973 Patented Sept. 25, 1956 method showing the filling chute withbox support in raised position, with a yieldable-wall, top-seal typecontainer in filling position, resting upon a roller conveyor.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view with a section cutout showing the containerin filling position with top flaps extending upwardly, with thecontainer support in spaced relationship with the container.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section view of a part of the filling chute and boxsupport.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section view of a part of the filling chute and boxsupport and the container in filling posi tion.

Like numerals throughout the several views designated correspondingparts.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, 10 designates thehydraulic press assembly. This assembly 10 is of a type commerciallyavailable except with certain modifications necessary to adapt it forcarrying out my method' The assembly 10 consists generally of a verticalframe 11, supporting a hydraulic: cylinder 12 of conventionalconstruction. The cylinder" 12 contains a piston (not shown) whichactivates a press head 13. The press head 13 is generally round inshape, but for my method, it preferably is rectangular and adapted tofit within a yieldable-wall, top-seal type container 14, having topflaps l5, sides 16 and top score lines 17.

Numeral 18 designates aconventional type endless belt conveyor which isadapted to deposit tobacco into a filling chute 19. The filling chute 19is preferably of the same shape as the press head 13, and has afunnel-shaped opening 20 to receive the tobacco. An intermediate section21 is reinforced to give added rigidity and strength and extends into arigid container support 22 which is an integral part thereof. Thecontainer support 22 extends diagonally downwardly for a short distanceat the point of juncture with the intermediate section 21 and continuesdownwardly parallel to the sides of the intermediate section 21. Flapsupport zones 23 are provided to give a positive locking action for topflaps 15 of the container 14 to hold them in upright position duringfilling and compressing. Means, not shown, are provided for lowering andraising the filling chute 19 sufiiciently to allow the container 14 asin Fig. 1, or lowered so as to be in spaced relationship with the con-.tainer 14 as shown in Fig. 4. A roller conveyor 24 is provided uponwhich the carton 14 position.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view in elevation of one In addition to thehydraulic press assembly 10 is shown a plurality of con tainers M incollapsed position on a support 25. A carton assembly zone 26 is shownwhere the containers 14 are assembled. A roller conveyor 24 leads fromthe hydraulic press assembly 10 to an automatic strapping zone 27 wherethe container is securely closed.

In operation, a container 14 in collapsed condition is assembled in theassembly zone 26. It is then positioned on the roller conveyor 24 withthe top flaps 15 extending upwardly while the filling chute 19 is inraised position. The filling chute 11.9 is then lowered until thecontainer support 22 surrounds the outside periphery of the carton 14and is in spaced relationship therewith, and the top flaps 15 arepositioned securely in the flap support zones 23.

It is essential the container support 22 fits securely around theperiphery of the container 14' since it acts as a rigid support toprevent the sides 16 of the container 14 from yielding outwardly whilethe tobacco is being compressed.

When the container support 22 is in filling position, the conveyor 18 isstarted and the desired amount of rests while in filling "'3 a tobaccoflowed into the container 14 through the filling chute 19'. The amountis predetermined, either by level or weight, but in all instances it ismore than sufficient to fill the container 14 above the level of the topscore lines 17. The press head 13 is then lowered with sufiir cienthydraulic force to compress the tobacco below the top score lines 17.The press head 13 is immediately withdrawn, and the filling chute 19raised so that container support 22 is positioned above the top flaps15. The container 14 is activated along the roller conveyor 24 andproceeds to the automatic strapping zone 27 Where the top flaps 1-5 arefolded in closed position and the container 14 securely closed withmetal straps, not shown.

Because of the resiliency of the tobacco, it will not remain incompressed position below the top score lines 17. It has been found thatsufficient hydraulic pressure can be applied to the tobacco in thecontainer 14 and the tobacco compressed sufficiently that it takes fromone and one-half to two minutes after the press head has been withdrawnbefore the compressed tobacco expands above the top score lines. This ismore than sufficient time for the filled carton 14 to be sealed afterfilling.

While in the drawing a hydraulic press has been shown in which the presshead is lowered into the container, the invention is not so limited,since the method may be carried out using a hydraulic press in which thepress head remains stationary such as shown in U. S. Patent 2,499,310 toHathaway.

Although various types of yieldable-wall, top-seal type containers maybe used, in practice, it has been found that multiwall corriga-ted papercontainers of about 400 lb. strength are particularly suitable for use.

The size also may vary, but experience has shown that one capable ofholding about 450 pounds of tobacco is sufficiently large, yet can beeasily handled. It has been, found that the use of a container of thissize will result in a saving of from 20 to 25% on storage space.Furthermore, weighing about 19 pounds tare it represents a 66%% savingin container weight as a hogshead weighs around 108 pounds. Ordinarilythe container will be rectangular in shape, although it may be square,if desired.

Experience has shown that yieldable-w-all containers, as hereinbeforedescribed, can be processed in a thermova'ctor machine in the regularmanner as a hogshead, with the resulting tobacco being satisfactory inall respects.

The tobacco can be compressed in the yieldable-w-all container to thesame density per cubic foot as in a hogshead which may vary from topounds per cubic foot. The resiliency of the tobacco is readily apparentafter the press head is removed, so its expansion can be observed withdifferent types tobacco. I have found that in a container containing 450pounds of bright togacco, if the tobacco is compressed about four inchesbelow the top score lines 17, it will take from 1 /2 to 2 minutes beforethe tobacco will expand to above the top score lines 17. Thus, there issuificient time to remove the filled container 14 to the strapping zone27 where the top flaps 1'5 are folded in closed position and thecontainer 14 securely closed before the tobacco has expanded above thetop fold lines 17 It will vary somewhat with different types of tobacco,but will generally take from about 1 /2 to 2 minutes before it hasexpanded to above the top score lines provided the tobacco is compressedfrom 4 to 6 inches below the top score lines.

It will thus be apparent that by my novel method, tobacco may be packedand stored in yieldable-wall, topseal type containers and manyadvantages result thereby. Because of the size and shape of thecontainers, savings are achieved in transporting, as well as inwarehouse space. Transportation savings are also achieved in the lowertare weight of the container. During storage, the tobacco may beinspected or thiefed with greater ease than when packed in woodenhogsheads. In addition,

material saving results from cost of yieldable-wall, topseal' typecontainers rather than wooden hogsheads. The smaller size allows greaterease of handling than bulky hogsheads.v

Although I have shown and described preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that modifications may be made withinthe scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or scopethereof.

I claim:

-1. A method of packaging compressible tobacco ina yi-eldable-wall,top-seal type container comprising 1105i.

tioning a yieldable-wall, top-seal type container with its top flapsextending upwardly in a togacco filling zone, positioning a rigid formaround the outside periphery of said open container including saidextended top flaps, and in spaced relationship thereto, filling saidcontainer with resilient tobacco to a level above the top score lines ofsaid container, compressing said resilient tobacco to a level below saidtop score lines, and sealing said container before the resilient tobaccotherein can re-expand to a level above the top score lines of saidcontainer.

2. A method of packaging compressible tobacco in a yieldable-wall,top-seal type container comprising positioning a cardboard containerwith its top flaps extending upwardly in a tobacco filling zone,positioning a rigid form around the outside periphery of said opencontainer including said extended top flaps, and in spaced relationshipthereto, filling said container with resilient tobacco to a level abovethe top score lines of said container, compressing said resilienttobacco to a level below said top score lines, and sealing saidcontainer before the resilient tobacco therein can re-expand to a levelabove the top score lines of said container.

3. A method of packaging compressible tobacco in a yieldable-wall,top-seal type container comprising positioning a multiwall cardboardcontainer with its top flaps extending upwardly in a tobacco fillingzone, positioning a rigid form around the outside periphery of said opencontainer including said extended top flaps, and in spaced relationshipthereto, filling said container with resilient tobacco to a level abovethe top score lines of said container, compressing said resilienttobacco to a level below said top score lines, and sealing saidcontainer before the resilient tobacco therein can reexpand to a levelabove the top score lines of said container.

4. A method of packaging compressible tobacco in a yieldable-wall,top-seal type container comprising positioning a yieldable-wall,top-seal type container with its top flaps extending upwardly in atobacco filling zone, positioning a rigid form around the outsideperiphery of said open container including said extended top flaps, andin spaced relationship thereto, filling said container with resilienttobacco to a level above the top score lines of said container,compressing said resilient tobacco to a level below said top scorelines, removing said rigid form, and sealing said container before theresilient tobacco therein can re-expand to a level above the top scorelines of said container.

5. A method of packaging compressible tobacco in a yieldable-wall,top-seal type container comprising positioning a yieldable-wall,top-seal type container with its top flaps extending upwardly in atobacco filling zone, positioning a rigid form around the outsideperiphery of said open container including said extended top flaps, andin spaced relationship thereto, filling said container with reslienttobacco to a level above the top score lines of said container,compressing said resilient tobacco to a density. of from 10 to 20 poundsper cubic foot to a level below the said top score lines, and sealingsaid container before the resilient tobacco therein can reexpand to alevel above the top score lines of said container.

6. A method of packaging compressible tobacco in a yieldable-wall,top-seal type container comprising positioning a multiwall-cardboardcontainer of about 400 1b. said container before the resilient tobaccotherein can strength, with its top flaps extending upwardly in atobaccore-expand to a level above the top score lines of said filling zone,positioning a rigid form around the outside C ntainer.

periphery of said open container including said extended top flaps, andin spaced relationship thereto, filling said 5 References Cited In thefile of t111s Patent container with resilient tobacco to a level abovethe top UNITED STATES PATENTS score lines of said container, compressingsaid resilient tobacco to a density of from 10 to 20 pounds per cubic2330165 Wykes Sept 1943 foot to a level below the said top score lines,and sealing 2669813 Irmscher 1954

